Zone 10a planting calendar
In zone 10a the last spring frost usually comes around January 24 and the first fall frost around December 27: about 348 frost-free days. Here is what to do each month.
Typical frost dates
- Last spring frost
- January 24 Middle half of the zone: Jan 8 – Jan 29. Over by Feb 24 in 9 of 10 years.
- First fall frost
- December 27 Middle half of the zone: Dec 21 – Jan 8 (the next year). After Dec 5 in 9 of 10 years.
- Frost-free season
- about 348 days
- Coldest winter nights
- 30 to 35 °F
- ZIP codes in the zone
- 1,234
- Frost is rare in
- 677 of its ZIP codes; the dates are for the rest
Most of its weather stations are in California, Florida, Texas, Arizona and Louisiana.
Places in zone 10a
Zones measure winter cold, so frost dates still vary from place to place. A few weather stations across the zone:
| Place | State | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Frost-free days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mecca | California | Jan 6 | Dec 22 | 352 |
| Imperial County | California | Jan 14 | Dec 24 | 346 |
| Laveen | Arizona | Jan 14 | Dec 22 | 343 |
| Rockport Aransas County | Texas | Jan 23 | Jan 1 (the next year) | 347 |
| Buras | Louisiana | Jan 25 | Jan 4 (the next year) | 346 |
| Galveston | Texas | Jan 25 | Jan 1 (the next year) | 348 |
| Ortona | Florida | Jan 27 | Jan 11 (the next year) | 348 |
| Kissimmee Prairie Preserve | Florida | Jan 30 | Jan 11 (the next year) | 347 |
Month by month in zone 10a
Every job for all 60 crops, in the month it starts.
January
Sow outside
Plant out
February
Sow outside
- Zucchini Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Watermelons Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Cantaloupes Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Zinnias Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Nasturtiums Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Cosmos Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Cucumbers Feb 15 – Mar 8
- Winter squash Feb 15 – Mar 8
- Pumpkins Feb 15 – Mar 8
- Green beans Feb 15 – Mar 8
- Sweet corn Feb 15 – Mar 8
- Okra Feb 15 – Mar 8
- Sunflowers Feb 15 – Mar 15
Plant out
- Tomatoes Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Peppers Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Hot peppers Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Eggplant Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Tomatillos Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Basil Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Marigolds Feb 15 – Mar 1
- Sweet potatoes (sweet potato slips) Feb 15 – Mar 8
Start picking
- Chives Feb 2 – Jul 20
- Turnips Feb 5 – Mar 18
- Lettuce Feb 5 – Apr 8
- Peas Feb 6 – Mar 14
- Kale Feb 6 – Jul 10
- Mint Feb 9 – Jul 27
- Kohlrabi Feb 10 – Mar 18
- Bok choy Feb 12 – Mar 20
- Collard greens Feb 20 – Jun 12
- Strawberries Feb 21 – Mar 21
- Beets Feb 22 – Apr 8
- Cilantro Feb 24 – Apr 18
- Parsley Feb 24 – Aug 11
- Thyme Feb 24 – Aug 11
- Cabbage Feb 25 – Apr 10
- Green onions Feb 25 – Apr 23
- Dill Feb 26 – Apr 23
- Broccoli Feb 27 – Apr 14
March
Start picking
- Swiss chard Mar 1 – Aug 16
- Oregano Mar 3 – Jul 21
- Carrots Mar 4 – Apr 28
- Cauliflower Mar 6 – Apr 14
- Potatoes Mar 12 – May 24
- Basil Mar 17 – Jul 21
- Marigolds (in bloom) Mar 17 – Aug 4
- Sage Mar 18 – Aug 19
- Lavender Mar 25 – May 20
- Rosemary Mar 25 – Sep 9
- Shallots Mar 27 – Apr 30
- Onions Mar 27 – May 10
- Garlic Mar 28 – Apr 18
April
Start picking
- Zucchini Apr 1 – Jun 10
- Nasturtiums (in bloom) Apr 1 – Jul 22
- Leeks Apr 3 – Aug 21
- Green beans Apr 6 – May 18
- Cucumbers Apr 6 – Jun 1
- Okra Apr 6 – Jul 13
- Peppers Apr 16 – Jul 23
- Tomatoes Apr 16 – Aug 6
- Zinnias (in bloom) Apr 16 – Aug 6
- Cosmos (in bloom) Apr 16 – Aug 6
- Sweet corn Apr 21 – Jun 6
- Tomatillos Apr 21 – Jun 30
- Eggplant Apr 21 – Jul 14
- Cantaloupes Apr 26 – May 31
- Watermelons Apr 26 – Jun 9
- Celery Apr 26 – Jun 21
- Sunflowers (in bloom) Apr 26 – Jun 23
- Hot peppers Apr 26 – Aug 2
May
Start picking
- Winter squash May 6 – Jul 29
- Sweet potatoes May 16 – Jul 11
- Pumpkins May 16 – Jul 25
June
No new jobs this month; water deeply and mulch against the heat.
July
No new jobs this month; water deeply, mulch and keep picking.
August
Sow for fall
- Brussels sprouts Aug 2–23
- Cabbage Aug 30 – Sep 27
September
Sow for fall
- Cauliflower Sep 6–27
- Broccoli Sep 6 – Oct 4
- Cucumbers Sep 27 – Oct 11
- Green beans Sep 27 – Oct 11
October
Sow for fall
- Zucchini Oct 4–18
- Peas Oct 4–18
- Carrots Oct 4–25
- Beets Oct 4–25
- Kale Oct 4 – Nov 1
- Collard greens Oct 4 – Nov 1
- Green onions Oct 11–25
- Cilantro Oct 18 – Nov 1
- Lettuce Oct 18 – Nov 8
- Kohlrabi Oct 18 – Nov 8
- Bok choy Oct 18 – Nov 8
- Spinach Oct 18 – Nov 15
- Turnips Oct 18 – Nov 15
- Arugula Oct 25 – Nov 22
- Mustard greens Oct 25 – Nov 22
November
Start indoors
Sow for fall
- Radishes Nov 8–29
Start picking
- Cucumbers Nov 16 – Dec 27
- Green beans Nov 16 – Dec 27
- Zucchini Nov 18 – Dec 27
- Beets Nov 23 – Dec 28
- Arugula Nov 24 – Jan 1
- Mustard greens Nov 24 – Jan 6
- Cabbage Nov 26 – Jan 23
- Bok choy Nov 27 – Jan 2
- Spinach Nov 27 – Jan 4
- Lettuce Nov 27 – Jan 8
- Turnips Nov 27 – Jan 14
- Peas Nov 28 – Dec 27
- Cauliflower Nov 28 – Jan 10
- Broccoli Nov 28 – Jan 20
- Kale Nov 28 – Feb 7
- Collard greens Nov 28 – Feb 7
- Brussels sprouts Nov 30 – Feb 7
December
Start indoors
- Tomatoes Dec 14–28
- Tomatillos Dec 14–28
- Basil Dec 21 – Jan 4
- Marigolds Dec 28 – Jan 11
Sow outside
- Peas Dec 13 – Jan 3
- Spinach Dec 13 – Jan 10
- Kale Dec 13 – Jan 10
- Arugula Dec 20 – Jan 17
- Radishes Dec 20 – Jan 31
- Shallots (shallot sets) Dec 27 – Jan 10
- Collard greens Dec 27 – Jan 17
- Kohlrabi Dec 27 – Jan 17
- Turnips Dec 27 – Jan 17
- Asparagus (asparagus crowns) Dec 27 – Jan 17
- Rhubarb (rhubarb crowns) Dec 27 – Jan 17
- Mustard greens Dec 27 – Jan 24
- Potatoes (seed potatoes) Dec 27 – Jan 24
- Lettuce Dec 27 – Feb 7
- Green onions Dec 27 – Feb 7
Plant out
- Cabbage Dec 27 – Jan 10
- Onions Dec 27 – Jan 10
- Strawberries (strawberry plants) Dec 27 – Jan 17
Sow for fall
- Garlic (garlic cloves) Dec 13 – Jan 17